Music – 1980 – Star Spangled Banner – At Lake Placid Olympics Mens Hockey USA Gold Medal Ceremony

The “Miracle on Ice“ was a medal-round game during the men’s ice hockey tournament at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York….which was played between the hosting United States and the four-time defending gold medalists, the Soviet Union.

The Soviet Union had won the gold medal in five of the six previous Winter Olympic Games….and were the favorites to win once more in Lake Placid. The team consisted primarily of professional players with significant experience in international play…..whereas by contrast, the United States’ team….which was led by head coach Herb Brooks, comprised mostly amateur players…..who with only four players with minimal minor-league experience the United States was the youngest team in the tournament and in U.S. national team history. In the group stage, both the Soviet and U.S. teams were unbeaten…..as the U.S. achieved several notable results, including a 2–2 draw against Sweden….and a 7–3 upset victory over second-place favorite Czechoslovakia.

For the first game in the medal round, the United States played the Soviets….while finishing the first period tied at 2–2…..with the Soviets leading 3–2 following the second…..when the U.S. team scored two more goals to take their first lead during the third and final period….while winning the game 4–3….after which following the game….the U.S. won the gold medal by beating Finland in their final game.  Likewise, the Soviet Union took the silver medal by beating Sweden.

The victory became one of the most iconic moments of the history of the Olympic Games….as well as in U.S. sports. Equally well-known was the television call of the final seconds of the game by Al Michaels for ABC….in which he declared….“Do you believe in miracles? YES!”  In 1999, Sports Illustrated named the “Miracle on Ice” the top sports moment of the 20th century.  As part of its centennial celebration in 2008, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) named the “Miracle on Ice” as the best international ice hockey story of the past 100 years…..and ImaSportsphile has the gold medal ceremony where each and every player on the USA men’s Olympic hockey team is seen singing the Star Spangled Banner….while the Stars and Stripes are being raised above the Russian flag….which is simply GREAT STUFF!!!